North Miami Chefs

Kevin G.

Verified review

We were extremely fortunate to have had Dade County Food Group cater our wedding last week. Not only did they provide us with EXCELLENT service during our event but Brian was by far the EASIEST, most DOWN-TO-EARTH caterer to work with in the days leading up to our wedding. He helped us execute the vision we had by working within our budget and providing us with useful strategies about event flow and advice about different plating options and ingredients. At the end of the day, Brian and his team at Dade County Food Group prepared the most DELICIOUS food we have ever had at a wedding. The food was even better than what we tried during the tasting (which didn't seem possible!). All of our guests couldn't stop raving about the food and most went up and got seconds. Even abuela! Our guests even chanted his name during the reception!!! That's unheard of!!! In addition to the unbelievably tasty food, Brian's staff (waiters, water servers, bus boys, bartenders, chefs, etc) were friendly and fun but maintained their professionalism. At the end of the reception, Brian and his staff worked quickly and efficiently to remove all their equipment from the venue and they even helped our families pick up. Heck, they even arrived 1 day before the wedding to help set up!
I know what you're thinking, "This sounds to good to be true." It's not. Brian and his team are thoughtful, honest, hard working, caring, and resourceful. And at the end of the day, they cook some REALLY REALLY REALLY GOOD FOOD. At the very least you should contact DCFG for your catering needs. I promise you won't be disappointed with them. I guarantee they will cook the BEST DAMN FOOD you have ever tried. And if you don't agree, then please send the food my way because I have been dying for another bite ever since our wedding day!

Karen R.

Verified review

I contacted Chef Jeff to arrange meal preparation several times a week for my elderly parents. After speaking with several references I was convinced he was the best choice. Everything I was told by current customers is true. My parents find his food very tasty and he's reliable, accommodating, and very fairly priced. My parents plan to use Chef Jeff on an ongoing basis. We are completely satisfied with Chef Jeff and are happy to have found him through Thumbtack.

Julie K.

Verified review

I cannot thank Chef Paul and his team enough for making our engagement party very special. The mocktails were inspired, the hors d'oeurves and dinner were outstanding, the cake was beautiful and the service was amazing. I will definitely use The Dancing Palate at my next catered party.

Joshua B.

Verified review

Words cannot describe the service Chef David provided us. Chef David did the impossible and not only catered our event but provided photography, all tables/chairs/silverware, and lighting. The dedication and end result blew my expectations.
If I can give a 10-Star rating I would. Believe me Chef, you will be getting a phone call for our marriage renewal!
I wish you the best and thank you once again to the catering team that not just bends over backwards but flips and makes our dreams come true!

Samantha D.

Verified review

I booked this caterer for my wedding on 12/30/17. I'm Jamaican and my husband and I wanted the jerk chicken with rice and pease. We also had the chance to taste the food prior to booking for the wedding. We worked with Kathy and told her what we like and didn't like at the tasting. The food was awesome at the wedding ! I would like for the chef to be recognized. We had so many compliments about the food. To my regret i didn't get the chance to take any pictures of the food. The servers were so kind and punctual. They provided awesome services. Thank you all for the great work.

Carolina R.

Verified review

I could Never say enough about Tesia, and neither could my 6 bridesmaids! Ive been day dreaming about her incredible meals every day since we met! She was very organized and assertive and accommodating (which I've had trouble finding with other chefs), as incredible in her skill as promised, and not to mention she was fun loving and easy going - the perfect fit for our group of ladies. THANK YOU TESIA!! Until next time!!

Jorge S.

Verified review

We were hosting an engagement party at our house for 20 people and decided to hire Paella VIP to make paella and tostones on-site. It was very easy to coordinate the menu and schedule for the event. Jorge, the owner, was very responsive to our messages and questions. The chef arrived early to setup and start preparing the food, carefully not disrupting any of the other preparations. The food was delicious and the service was top-notch. Everyone had large portions and greatly enjoyed their food. Highly recommended!

Christopher A.

Verified review

Let us start by saying WOW and AMAZING!
We are so late writing this review and apologize for that... My husband and I were married back in January of 2016. As many of us that plan a wedding, this was our first time so we did not know what to expect. We planned everything ourselves, found the venue, found a caterer, photographer, Dj etc. We had a budget and it was quickly approaching the maximum. We heard weddings were expensive blah blah blah, but until you pay for one you may never know...
We interviewed several Thumbtack bakers and taste tested their product. We met a lot of great candidates, but non of them "took the cake" like Claudia at "Cake it to the limit"
Claudia is an artist and a visionary.
Jose and I had an idea to incorporate our centerpiece (a silver metal round globe that was a candle holder and had an unusual design to illuminate light)
We sent Claudia a picture of the centerpiece and asked her if she could incorporate it into her design. We did not see her idea until the day of, we were amazed! It was elegant, stunning and delicious!
Our caterer, Laura, from Laura Ashley catering (also recommended) told us that they have never had a fondant cake that was so easily able to cut and serve.
Needless to say we highly recommend this company and have already had the opportunity to recommend her to others. Claudia is professional and a delight to work with.
Thankyou for making our day extra special!

Giovanni R.

Warren L.

Verified review

Chef O is the best! and I'm not one to hand out praise very freely. The food was on point and very well executed (we should have ordered even more :) even though we were very well fed), service and attention to detail was top notch, and we felt like we were dealing with an old friend and not just a chef for hire. You won't regret using these guys. Thanks again chef! We will be using you again real soon.

Laura T.

Verified review

José was the epitome of a personal chef. I have set up events with chefs before and he blew us away with his professionalism, delicious cooking, and personality as a whole! Jose made the process very easy and he quoted a great price that we were comfortable with. He did not try to rip us off like other chefs try to do.
We are all from out of town for a bachelorette party and wanted to do a fun night in to relax and have great food for our last night. He prepared homemade Chinese food with spring rolls, dumplings, fried rice, sticky chili chicken, broccoli, and a delicious chocolate cake cup dessert with vanilla ice cream! His sticky chili chicken had a Peruvian twist and was party favorite!
A few of us have a serious peanut and shellfish allergy and he suggested foods to have on the menu and was very responsive to any needs we needed.
I would recommend him to anyone and will definitely use if we are back in town! Thank you José!!!

Adam G.

Verified review

I hired Chef Dominic to prepare a fully vegan meal for my girlfriend and I for Valentine's Day. We both were blown away by the food, his professionalism and the overall experience. I liked how Chef came to my home prior to make sure we were a fit for each other, a true professional with so much passion for what he does. I highly recommend Chef Dominic!

Sheri L.

Verified review

Rice Catering has consistently exceeded expectations. From events small to large, Rice Catering and Chef Wally delivers outstanding food and services. I would highly recommend Rice Catering for all your events -- large and small. Always delivering the highest quality.

Victoria G.

Verified review

Kerry is an amazing pastry chef and beautiful person on the inside and out! I sent her the party invite and asked if she can match the design on the cake, add watercolor effect and nautical elements for my sister's baby shower. She matched the cake design perfectly and added her personal touch as well. It was tastefully done and came out elegant and way beyond my expectations! The cake was not only beautiful but also so tasty! Everyone were impressed and now two weeks later we still talk about it. Kerry was also professional and punctual. She kept communicating on the progress, asking questions, keeping me informed and delivered on time. Perfection!

Roberto M.

Verified review

I had the pleasure of sampling some of that GrenHous cuisine when Mark was the guest chef at the BB&T Arena.
He and his staff were extremely informative when I asked about the ingredients and preparation of the juiciest airline chicken breast on butternut squash puree I've ever had, followed by the energyballs dessert(had 5!) made with almonds, chia, flax, dates, coconut...Fiiiiire!
The food is excellent. Presentation first class. But more than anything i was very impressed by their attitudes, pride in what they were serving. These dudes are passionate about what they do.
Do yourself a damn favor and treat yourself to experiencing this food!

Justinne I.

Verified review

An exceptional class taught by an exceptional Chef! I am working on my culinary certification and had asked Chef Maury's help to polish my skills up. It took a couple of months until I could finally schedule my class (my schedule won't permit) but Chef Maury replied promptly whenever I send him a message. The class itself lasted for about 4 hours, concentrating on knife skills, stock making and basic cooking techniques. He was very keen in making sure I make the right cuts and correcting me right away. His kitchen is a standard home kitchen so you don't have to worry about being intimidated by big equipment. Whether you have a culinary background like I do or just a home cook who wants to learn more, Chef Maury is the right guy to show you the ropes. I am already looking forward to my next class!

Christian P.

Verified review

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Q & A

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Thumbtack.

How do you find a good caterer?

Reviews, interviews and menu tastings will help you find the right catering choice for your big day. Start by screening possible wedding caterers based on past reviews. If a caterer you are interested in has a review that concerns you, ask them about it; how they respond will be very telling. Next, ask about their availability for your wedding date.

If the wedding caterer is available on your date, it’s time to talk about menus and prices. Be clear about what your maximum budget is find out what choices this will allow you. Caterers may custom-create a menu for your event, or they may have menu templates within different price ranges that can guide your decision. A clear budget gives the caterer clear parameters within which to work and offer creative suggestions. Schedule a menu tasting to confirm you love your wedding menu. Once you have a menu and date, and have paid a deposit to reserve the caterer’s services, confirm additional details including when the food will be delivered to the site, what kind of service will be provided, how many servers will be onsite and for how long, and who is responsible for setup and cleanup. The more specific your contract, the fewer worries you’ll have on your wedding day. Get more smart hiring tips here.

Do you tip a wedding caterer?

Tipping 15 percent to 20 percent on a $3,000 catering bill can feel daunting — especially in light of all the other costs of throwing a wedding — but tipping your wedding caterer is standard practice. Be sure to ask your caterer about their specific policies. Many catering companies include gratuity as a line item on their bill. If tipping is not automatically included in your total, a good approach is to tip all the people involved the day of the event rather than paying one lump sum to the catering company. For each server and bartender, you can tip $20-$50, depending on how long they were onsite and whether they did exceptional work. You can also tip the chef; experts suggest $50. It’s also a good idea to tip the catering manager, the point-of-contact person who keeps the catering service running smoothly the day of your wedding, ensures all the food looks beautiful and is plentiful, and resolves any mishaps. Industry pros recommend tipping the catering manager $100-$200. If gratuity is not included and you’re tipping individuals, set aside $200-$500 in cash to be safe.

How much does wedding catering cost per person?

Wedding catering costs will always vary based on the number of guests you’re inviting, the menu you want to serve, and the way the food will be served to your guests. As you interview wedding catering companies, you’ll be presented with a cost per person for various menus. On the low end, wedding catering may cost approximately $15-$18 per person. This would include prepared food only, with no setup or service of any kind. The starting price for a simple buffet meal with minimal service typically averages $22 per person. Opting for the same menu with all organic ingredients could raise your costs to about $33 per person. A moderately upscale menu (finer ingredients, more elaborate presentation) could range from $24 to $34 per person. High-end wedding catering cost truly has no limit. Lobster, filet mignon, specialty seafood, organic ingredients — menu choices like these can boost your cost per person up to $150 and more.

How much does it cost to hire a caterer?

Catering prices depend mainly on how fancy you want the food and service to be and how many guests you’ll have. When you’re first looking to hire a caterer for your event, consider how many guests you’ll have and your total food and drink budget. The national average for event catering is $340, but catering prices can range into the thousands depending on your menu, guest count, and service.

Event catering is a broad term that covers everything from fully prepared, ready-to-eat food that the hosts plate and serve themselves to full-service, multicourse meals, including rental of linens, glassware and other items, with service staff organized by the catering company. Usually a caterer will determine cost based on the type of event you’re having, how many guests will attend, the level of service you desire, and what type of menu you’d like to have. For example, if you have a set catering budget, say $1,500, and you plan to have 50 people attend, that means you have $30 per person for food. If you have the same budget with 100 people, you have $15 per person for food. In this way, the number of people you want to attend your event and the level of food you want to serve them determines how much catering will cost.

What should you look for in a caterer?

A delicious meal is a critical element of a successful wedding, with happy guests fondly remembering your fabulous wedding food. The right caterer for you will be:

Available: Even the best caterer is no good if they aren’t available on your wedding date. Ask early before you get your heart set on someone.

Affordable for you: Find a caterer that you can afford. Having a spending plan ahead of time will mean you won’t overspend on food.

A good personality fit: Wedding planning is stressful, so work with someone that you can get along with and communicate with easily.

Experienced and recommended: Ensure the company has a proven track record with events of your size and the references to back it up.

Transparent about money: Steer clear of shady pricing. Find a caterer who is very clear about costs and is happy to talk you through budgets and pricing options.

Transparent about food: Find someone who is clear about where they source their food from and where it is prepared.